Methodology

We track two things for every place: what the law says, and what Pornhub actually does. They're often different, and most confusion online comes from mixing them up.

Two statuses

The law

Law in effect: an age-verification law that reaches adult sites serving that place is in force. Passed, not yet in effect: enacted, with a future start date. Blocked by a court: enacted but enjoined. Bill moving: an adult-site bill has had a hearing, a vote or floor debate in the last 90 days. No law: none of the above. Bills that were only introduced, or have stalled, are listed on the page but don't count as moving.

What Pornhub does

Blocked: Pornhub refuses visitors from that place. ID check required: Pornhub serves the place behind an age check. Available: Pornhub serves it with no new age check. Unclear: reliable sources conflict. Where access is partial (existing accounts only, a safe-for-work version only), we use the status that fits most adult visitors and say what's different next to it.

A few cases need a rule. A law that binds only platforms based in that country (Ireland's Online Safety Code, Spain's audiovisual law) is listed as a related law, and the place is coded as having no law for porn sites. Oklahoma's law makes age verification a defence rather than a direct mandate; it counts as a law in effect, with a note. Internet providers ordered to block a site (as in Germany) don't change Pornhub's own status; we report them separately.

Sources

Every status traces to at least one source, listed on the page with its type and date. We prefer primary sources, in this order: the statute or enrolled bill, the legislature's bill record, court opinions and dockets, then attorney general and regulator releases. Pornhub's status comes from news reporting and regulators, because we never visit adult sites or link to them. Trackers run by advocacy groups, trade bodies and law firms are leads for us, not proof.

Confidence and dates

Each page shows the date a researcher last checked it against its sources. High confidence means the law's status, dates and citation were confirmed against a primary source and Pornhub's status against reputable reporting. Medium means consistent secondary sources only; those pages say "Being verified". Anything we can't confirm is held back until we can.

Every count on the site, such as "27 states", is generated from the same dataset, so the map, the tables, the answers and the downloads can't disagree with one another.

What we don't do

• No instructions for getting around blocks. When people ask about VPNs, we explain what the law says.
• No adult images and no links to adult sites.
• No legal advice. These pages explain public law in general terms; talk to a lawyer about your situation.

Corrections and updates

Laws change, courts rule, and platforms change their minds. We update pages when they do and date every change. If you see an error, email corrections@pornblocked.com with a source; see the corrections policy.

Published by Quicker Media Inc., which also operates Quickie. See About.